Byrd And Marshall Named C-USA Players Of The WeekByrd Rushes For A Career High 251 Yards, Marshall Blocks Two Punts

Dec. 2, 2013

DENTON, Texas – After his record breaking performance at Tulsa, senior running back Brandin Byrd has been named the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week while junior Mike Marshall was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking two punts in the victory. Byrd shared the weekly honor with Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullins.

Byrd had the best rushing day in college football this weekend when he ran for a career-high 251 yards and three touchdowns in the 42-10 win at Tulsa. That was the highest rushing total in Conference USA this season and only nine players in FBS football have had more yards in a single game this year.

Byrd averaged 9.7 yards per carry in the game, which included a career-long 91-yard touchdown in the third quarter. It was the third-longest rush in FBS football this season and the longest by a North Texas player since 1995.

Byrd also added touchdown runs of 10 and two yards. With his career-best performance, Byrd went over 1,000 yards for the season, which is the first time the senior has eclipsed that mark in his career. He is the only player in school history with three runs for over 80-yards in their career.

Marshall became the first player in North Texas history to block two punts in a game when he had two against Tulsa. Both of Marshall's blocks set up Mean Green touchdowns. The first came when he deflected a punt that gave North Texas the ball at the Mean Green 47 yard line to set up NT's first score of the game.

Marshall's second block was recovered for a touchdown to give North Texas its first lead in the game in the second quarter. The two blocks give North Texas eight for the season, which leads the NCAA.